The Boss

by Stephanie Hunt

  As a matter of fact, she thought about him too much. He had a disturbing tendency to be even better looking each time she saw him. Today he was dressed casually. His jeans fit like a million bucks, and his tee shirt was designer, but still. Had she realized how muscular he was under his nicer clothes? His chest was defined and his stomach was flat, and his shoulders strained the fabric of his shirt just slightly.

  Saige glanced down at the router box in her hands and pretended to be very absorbed in what it said. How long had she been staring at him? She felt her face turning red and cursed her tendency to blush. Aiden watched color fill her cheeks as she stared down at the router she was clutching. He was glad that she was looking away this time, because he hadn’t had time to gather his own composure. She was the last person he’d expected to see.

  She had lunch with her father on the grounds every day, but he hadn’t tried approaching her again. What had he been thinking, anyway? If things went south with Victoria because of the gardener's daughter his parents would never forgive him.

  But now, seeing her out of the blue...he felt a surge of pure, undeniable desire. He pushed his hand back through his hair and took a breath. Then he took a half step away, sighed and walked over to her.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hi.” She didn’t look up from the box.

  “I’m wondering if maybe we got off to a bad start.”

  Okay, that she could deal with. “You’re wondering if we got off to a bad start?” she repeated sarcastically. “Do you mean the part where your mother insulted my father’s work ethic or the part where you treated me like a door to door salesman?”

  “When did she insult him?” Aiden asked.

  Saige put the router back on the shelf and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. She shouldn’t have said anything. If her outburst cost her father his job, she’d never forgive herself. Money had always been tight for them.

  “Never mind,” she said.

  “I didn’t treat you like a salesman,” he went on. “I can’t figure out why you’ve got such a big problem with me.”

  “I don’t have a problem with you,” she lied, clenching her teeth.

  “Then why’d you brush me off the other day?” he asked. It still bugged him. He’d been nice! Or at least he’d planned to be. She hadn’t really given him a chance.

  “Because I wasn’t there to see you!” Saige said, her voice getting louder in her frustration. “This may be hard for you to believe Mr. Cross, but I’m a little more interested in seeing the man who raised me, a man I haven’t seen in 4 years, I might add, than I am in fawning all over you.”

  “You don’t have to fawn,” Aiden said indignantly. “You could be civil, at least.”

  “I was civil,” she informed him. “You were the one who was rude, interpreting Dad’s measly half hour lunch just to blather on about nothing.”

  “You weren’t even listening!”

  Since that was true, she shrugged. “Okay, you’re right. But that’s because I was there to see my father.” She emphasized every word.

  “What’s the harm in seeing someone else?” Aiden demanded. “Maybe I was just trying to be nice!”

  “You weren’t,” Saige answered bluntly. “You were probably bored with all your expensive toys, so you thought you’d see what entertainment you could find. I’d imagine that wandering around that mausoleum all day gets a little boring.” She could see that she’d struck home with that accusation and she actually felt a pang of regret when his brows drew together over those stormy blue eyes.

  Then he straightened his shoulders and said, “Excuse me for trying to be hospitable. It won’t happen again.”

  “It didn’t happen the first time!” she exclaimed, following him as he walked out of the store. “Your family treats my father like a...like a servant and then you act like I should fall all over myself with gratitude just because you decide to speak with. This isn’t Victorian England! I don’t have to bow down to you just because you’re rich and I’m poor!”

  Aiden stopped short and looked down at her. Her hands were clenched in tight fists and her breath was coming in gasps. Her cheeks were flushed with anger and her eyes were shooting sparks. As much as he wanted to deny it, he had expected her to be grateful that he was speaking to her. He’d expected her to be breathless with interest about his life because it was so different from hers. God, he really was an ass.

  “I’m sorry,” he said when she drew breath to speak again.

  Saige felt the air in her lungs rush out at his words. No, not actually his words. The expression of absolute sincerity on his face as he spoke them. He didn’t wait for her to answer before he turned and walked away.

  Her fickle heart lurched and she had to suppress a strong urge to call him back. There was nothing else to say. He’d been a jerk, she’d called him on it, and he’d apologized. They were done. Except now, seeing what he looked like when he wasn’t putting on his rich guy persona...she didn’t want to be done. Saige groaned and rubbed her face with both hands. Why did she feel like she’d just gotten in too deep?

  Chapter Five:

  “Hi,” Victoria said, hardly looking away from the mirror in the hall where she was examining her lipstick. “I thought you might be late.”

  Aiden glanced at his Rolex. “It doesn’t start until 7.” It was only 6:30 and the McGarity house was only just down the road. “I thought you were a fashionably late kind of girl anyway.”

  “Usually, I am,” she said, gracing him with a smile. “But since I helped organize the event, I need to be there to greet everyone.” She turned and stood on tiptoe, wrapping her arms around his neck and giggling. “You should know all about it, Aiden. Your mother is the most well known hostess in the city!”

  That might be a small stretch, but only a small one. Savannah Cross was very well known for her events. The only reason she hadn’t been involved in this one was because it had been organized by Victoria and her friends and Savannah knew better than to step on her future daughter in law’s toes in the social scene.

  “So what are we raising money for again?” Aiden asked, straightening his tie and then frowning when he realized that he was staring into the mirror the same way Victoria was.

  She sighed. “I told you! PETA!” She adjusted the front of her dress and said, “I’ve gone vegan for two weeks just to get ready for it. I think this dress really shows it off.”

  “Are you going to keep it up?” he asked, eyeing her figure in the deep purple dress. She did look nice, but he couldn’t help comparing her to Saige. He wasn’t sure why Victoria had thought she’d needed to lose weight. If anything, she was a little too thin now. Her collarbones and wrists looked brittle.

  “No,” she scoffed. “I just wanted to be able to talk about it to these people.” She smiled up at him. “All right, are you ready?”

  He held out his arm for her to slip hers through and put on his performance face. “To be seen with you in front of everyone? Always.”

  Victoria smiled complacently and they walked to her chauffeured car. The house was only about a block away, but even people who lived on the same street wouldn’t have thought of walking there. Maybe Victoria should have picked an environmental charity.

  When they got out of the car less than 10 minutes later, he was relieved to see that hardly anyone was there yet. Victoria, however, looked panicked.

  “Where is everyone?” she demanded when her friend Lynette McGarity opened the door.

  “Kaylee’s flight was late getting in and Mindy’s car broke down.”

  Aiden raised an eyebrow. Mindy Stanford’s father was a collector. The man had a fleet of vehicles.

  Victoria sighed. “I hope they fire the idiot who’s supposed to be maintaining those cars.”

  Lynette patted her on the arm. “I’m sure they will.”

  Aiden wouldn’t have thought much of the statement a few weeks ago, but it got under his skin now. “Doesn’t Mr. Stanford own over 20 cars?” he
asked. “There’s no way to make sure they’re all in running order all the time. At least not at a moment’s notice.”

  Victoria gave him a surprised glance. “It is his job, Aiden. What else would he be doing?”

  Aiden let it go, but he remembered Saige saying that she hadn’t seen her father in four years. Then he remembered that Patrick Gilmore typically worked all day and only got a half hour lunch break. He hadn’t even known that until Saige had called him out on it.

  People began to bustle around. Caterers putting last minute touches on everything, Victoria greeting her friends that had finally arrived, performers who were part of the entertainment, it all swirled around him. It was familiar and he didn’t have to think much about it. He was charming enough to Victoria’s friends for them to be impressed, but not enough for her to get upset with him.

  He drank champagne and ate hor d'oeuvres and chatted meaninglessly. No one was even talking about the charity. The men were all talking about investments and anything else that would underscore how much money they had to play with. The women were talking about how well the event had come together and complimenting each other’s hair, clothes, and men.

  None of it meant anything. He stepped out back where it was a little quieter and took a breath of the air. It was stiflingly hot, but that was summer in Charleston. He looked out at the McGarity’s backyard. They had a pool too. Like his, it appeared to be impeccable, but unused. He wondered suddenly what would happen if he dove in. Picturing the shocked looks on everyone’s faces brought a smile to his lips.

  Aiden turned when he heard the door open again.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” the woman said. “I didn’t know there was someone...” she trailed off.

  “Saige.”

  “Hi,” she mumbled. Just her luck.

  He didn’t have to ask what she was doing there. She was wearing the same outfit that he’d seen the caterers in earlier.

  “I didn’t know you catered.”

  “I don’t. I volunteered to help a friend who was short staffed. I can use the money.” She wished she hadn’t said that last part, but he didn’t react to it.

  “That was nice of you,” he said stiffly.

  He didn’t really know how to speak with her. Seeing her so unexpectedly had rendered him tongue tied. Also, the black slacks and the crisp white button up emphasized her curves in a way that her more casual clothes hadn’t. She’d pulled her hair up into a bun instead of the more casual ponytail she’d worn the other two times he’d seen her and he admired the curve of her neck. He pictured himself kissing his way down it and had to clear his throat to bring himself back to reality.

  “I’m mostly just cutting crusts off of sandwiches,” she said. “Just came out to get some fresh air.”

  His mouth tipped slightly. “Good luck with that.”

  “I don’t really mind the humidity,” she said. “I almost missed it when I was away. I only wish I had a swimming pool.”

  She leaned against the porch railing, trying not to look at him. When his mouth had curved into that half smile she’d felt a shiver straight down to her core.

  “I’m thinking I might take a swim at my place tonight,” he said. “After this is over.”

  She looked up when he moved closer. Aiden traced her cheek slowly, running his thumb down its curve. Saige caught her breath as his thumb swept over her lips. Was he...

  As his head tilted down, the door opened again and several other party goers exclaimed about the heat. Saige used the chance to duck into the kitchen. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest, and she leaned against the door. The mention of the pool...had it been an invitation? She tried to talk herself out of the notion, but she knew she was right. All that was left was to figure out what she was going to do about it.

  Chapter Six:

  Aiden didn’t get home till after midnight. The party had dragged on and on. Victoria seemed happy with the way it had come together though, and she’d been full of plans for her next event on the way home. When he’d asked her how much money they’d raised, she’d given a vague answer and started talking about maybe having a masquerade ball next time. He wondered what charity she’d pick. Not that she gave a damn about any of them.

  He walked into the back yard, loosening his tie and shrugging out of his suit jacket. He let his clothes fall one by one onto a lounge chair near the pool. He left his boxers on. It wasn’t really much different from swim trunks

  Aiden eased into the pool and sighed as the cool water washed away the muggy feeling he’d gotten from standing around outside for too long. He closed his eyes and ducked down under the water, holding his breath until his lungs burned. There was no way that Saige was going to come, obviously. But he hadn’t been able to resist asking her. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually been attracted to a woman. It was probably because he only dated girls thrown at him by his parents.

  He came up, gasping in air and pushing his hair off of his forehead. He blinked twice before he realized that Saige wasn’t a figment of his imagination. She was still wearing what she’d worn at the party and this time she looked a little nervous.

  “Hey,” he said, his voice rough with surprise.

  “Hi.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared determinedly down at the deck.

  It was pretty boring, just wooden planks, but it kept her distracted. The view in the pool was magnificent. Water droplets had beaded on those broad shoulders and his hair was a little darker when it was wet, bringing out the color of his eyes even more. She felt almost shaky. What on earth was she doing here? It had been way too long since she’d been involved with anyone. And to jump right in with a man like Aiden? It had mistake written all over it.

  “You were right,” he said, to break the silence. “I’d never even been for a swim in it before.”

  She nodded. “Well? How do you like it?

  “I like it a lot,” he answered. Then after a small pause to gather his nerve, “Why don’t you join me and see for yourself?

  Saige glanced at him. She’d never exactly been a party girl, but she’d had some good times. Swimming with Aiden seemed like juice that was worth the squeeze, if only to make him see that a woman didn’t need money to be desirable.

  She began unbuttoning her white shirt. “Turn around, please.”

  Reluctantly, he did as she’d asked. He hadn’t seen much, but the swell of her breasts as the shirt had parted was enough to send his imagination racing. Saige laid her shirt on top of the clothes he’d left on the lounge chair and slipped out of her shoes and pants. Then she shook her hair down out of its bun and, taking a deep breath, dove into the sparkling pool.

  Aiden turned and watched her swim across the pool. He’d been right about her athleticism. She moved through the water easily, quick and powerful and when she came up in the deep end, she wasn’t breathing hard.

  “So why don’t you swim?” she asked as he moved out to join her.

  “I don’t really know,” he answered, determined to be honest with a woman for the first time in his life. “I keep telling myself I don’t have time.”

  “What do you do?”

  He laughed humorlessly. “Nothing.”

  Saige hooked her arms over the edge of the pool, still facing him. Aiden’s eyes moved for a split second, looking at her full breasts. Since that was exactly what she’d wanted him to do, she didn’t mention it.

  “You must do something,” she said practically.

  Aiden shook his head. “Nope. Not a thing.” The water lapped at her breasts as he moved just a little closer, putting his hands on either side of her arms. Her bra was surprisingly frilly for a woman as practical as Saige seemed to be. The lacy fabric was thin and he could see her tightened nipples through it. He tightened his hands on the deck boards to stop himself from doing something she wasn’t ready for.

  She noticed that his breathing had grown more rapid and his voice a little rougher. She had to work to keep her voice
casual. “Not even with a degree in...”

  “I don’t have a degree.”

  Now that genuinely surprised her. She’d attended college with so many rich kids that she’d assumed it was compulsory for the breed.

  “A person doesn’t need a degree to be rich,” Aiden said, bitterness creeping into his voice.

  “Sounds like you wanted to go,” Saige ventured.

  He shrugged, his tense muscles bunching and tightening. “None of that newfangled tech crap for William Cross’s son.”

  “You wanted to do something techy?”

  He looked down. “Yeah. I’ve always been fascinated with all of that stuff. But you know, when your old man can’t even figure out how to get online, it kind of sours him on your chosen profession.”

  And there was the fact that there really hadn’t been any money for him to go, but he didn’t want to tell her that part. He’d already laid himself bare enough.

  “So there you have it,” he said, trying to speak lightly. “The reason I do nothing.”

  Saige looked into his eyes. He did a good job of pretending everything was okay. She assumed the he probably fooled most people. But she knew what it was like to want something. Something that you thought you’d never be able to have. The difference was that, with her father’s hard work and her own dedication, she’d gotten it.

  She leaned forward; they’d inched closer and closer together through the whole discussion, so she didn’t have far to go, and pressed her lips to his. Aiden groaned and gripped the back of her neck, holding her in place as he took the kiss deeper. Saige wrapped her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his waist and he pressed her back against the edge so that they didn’t sink.

  She was amazed to find him already hard against her and she loved the way his hand tightened on her neck when she moved against him, trying to measure the size of him. He had nothing to be ashamed of, that was for sure.